We discussed this at ACP chem path committee and there were different views.
One thing I would point out as a caution is that of equating the added cost of a consultant to the clinical comments reflects only a small part of the job, and risking the rest being forgotten, which would make commenting look expensive.
The 'package' of added value the consultant gives is a mix of commenting/protocol advice/troubleshooting odd results etc. of which actual comment adding is only a part.
We should be careful that by peeling off only one part of that package, the other bits which are less easily 'unitised' could be perceived as being of no added value and stripped out.
In DGHs many feel that systematic commenting often has limited added value - time is spent producing logic rules so we can use a lot of computer generated protocols for more standard stuff - a bit like PBR, if comments were itemised, we could see a spurious industry of artificial wealth creation!
It may be that a list of the activities which consultants do to contribute to the extra 10p cost or whatever per test could be produced in parallel.
-----Original Message-----
From: IT working group of the Association of Clinical Biochemists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of JA Muir Gray
Sent: 10 May 2006 07:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Costs of Report Comments - invitation to share info
Agree+++++++
In times of danger ; stick to your principles and be bold
On 9/5/06 17:20, "Rick Jones" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Yes but if we don't cost it how do you justify having expensive medics at all.
>
> Rick
>
>
> Dr Rick Jones
> Clinical Biochemistry & Immunology
> Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust
> Leeds General Infirmary
> Great George St
> Leeds LS1 3EX
> [log in to unmask]
> [log in to unmask]
> Trust: 0113 392 2340
> Univ: 0113 343 8033
> Fax: 0113 392 5174
> LS1 3EX
>
> http://www.ychi.leeds.ac.uk
> http://www.thehungersite.com
>
>
>>>> [log in to unmask] 09/05/2006 09:00 >>>
> Costing of comments is very dangerous. If for example you calculate
> that each comment costs £10 then the PCT might decide that they don't
> want to pay for that part of the service and will ask to strip that
> from what they pay the lab. What happens then - redundancies?
>
>
>
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: IT working group of the Association of Clinical Biochemists
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rick Jones
> Sent: 08 May 2006 16:22
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Costs of Report Comments - invitation to share info
>
>
> Dear ACB-IT,
> I'm interested in working out what it costs labs to manually put
> clinical comments on reports principally to see what the relative
> economic value of a more automated approach might be.
>
> I've developed an excel model to try to work this out in relation to
> staff time and report volumes.
>
> If anyone were interested in using this to capture & share data about
> their own service or indeed in refining the model I'd be pleased to hear from you.
>
> If we were to get a number of estimates I'd be happy to put them
> together and share the info after suitable anonymisation.
>
> With best wishes
>
>
>
> Dr Rick Jones
> Clinical Biochemistry & Immunology
> Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust
> Leeds General Infirmary
> Great George St
> Leeds LS1 3EX
> [log in to unmask]
> [log in to unmask]
> Trust: 0113 392 2340
> Univ: 0113 343 8033
> Fax: 0113 392 5174
> LS1 3EX
>
> http://www.ychi.leeds.ac.uk
> http://www.thehungersite.com
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